Month: October 2024

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Up in the Air While Hiking – 5 Great Destinations

Some of the best hiking destinations are up in the air, in the mountains. They all offer plenty of fresh air, great exercise and amazing scenery from their lofty vantage points. These five hiking destinations get progressively higher in attitude although it depends on the actual trails you chose for your own up in the air experience.

Five great mountain hiking destinations:

Haystacks – Lake District, England
Starting from the town of Gatesgarth you have a steep climb of 1,775 feet (541 meters) with some easy scrambling to Haystacks, one of the most popular hikes in the northern Lake District and final resting place of famed English author Alfred Wainwright. While you are up in the air you have a commanding view of the picturesque Buttermere Valley and lake. There is a great pub in the town to enjoy after your hike.

Sulphur Skyline – Canadian Rockies
This trail is located in Jasper National Park with 2,296 feet (700 meters) of steady climbing. Close to the top and above the tree line the trail become very steep with a path of loose stones. Up in the air from the top the view is spectacular with the valley of the Fiddle River below and the Miette Mountain range is the distance. The area is known for afternoon thunderstorms and bears (we saw one during our visit).

The Eiger – Swiss Bernese Alps
Start from Grindelwald and hike up the mountain for 1,027 meters (3,369 feet) to Mannlichen, located at the top of a ridge with views of the valleys in both directions. Then continue along the ridge to Kleine Scheiedgg as it provides excellent views of the Eiger in distance. Continue up the well maintained path for an additional 259 meters (849 feet) to Eigergletscher station. Your up in the air experience offers views of the Swiss Alps and Grindelwald deep in the valley below. Use the mountain railway for the return.

Machu Picchu – Peru
The Inca Trail will take you 3 or 4 days starting near Cuzco 3,352 meters (11,000 feet) above sea level. Dead Women’s Pass is the highest on the trail and you continue through gateway of the sun before arriving in Machu Picchu. The ruins of this former Inca city sit up in the air mountainside with views of the mountains and a tributary of the Amazon in the jungle below.

Everest Base Camp – Nepal
A strenuous climb of 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) which takes several days. This is the ultimate up in the air experience with incredible scenery, small Himalayan villages surrounded by terraced rice fields.

Any of these five up in the air mountain hikes will all be worth the effort for the views.

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Camping 101 For First Time Campers

I recently met a new family the other day. She is the mother to 5 boys and 1 girl all under the age of 9. My kids are now good friends with her 6 kids and her and I have wonderful conversations about everything under the sun. We recently spoke at a picnic and in conversation I mentioned that our families should go camping together. She confessed that they had never gone camping. I stood there starring in disbelief thinking, how could this be? She added that they did not own a single piece of camping equipment either.

Later that night I shared this information with my husband. Although I was still shocked, he reminded me about the time we went to our local REI and participated in a family camping event. REI loaned out gear to the families who were interested in learning more about camping and trying out some new gear. They put on a free campfire show with a fantastic Spanish guitarist/storyteller, while we all enjoyed an evening of camping together.

During that fun trip, we all camped at a local campground just 20 minutes from our home. We met a dozen or so wonderful families and were amazed to learn that this was their very first time camping. I guess it just never dawned on me that there are so many families out there who have never experienced the joy, adventure and sheer fun of camping. Perhaps the reason might be that there is a huge fear of the unknown about camping with young children, or they simply do not have any camping gear so they never investigated the idea further.

Some basic and simple ideas to get started are:

  • Do not worry about gear. Just find a local KOA where you can rent a cabin for a few bucks for the night.
  • Survey the area you are thinking about camping at first for safety from cliffs, or other dangers for kids. Maybe even picnic there first.
  • Plan on one night excursions at first to get an idea of what food quantities will be needed for longer trips.
  • Bring food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and breakfast again as well as snacks – healthy ones of course.
  • Make a check list to help you confidently pack for your trip.
  • Always bring a first aid kit, just in case.
  • Bring some fun toys/games, flash lights, blankets, rain gear, and remember to bring a camera.
  • Prepare yourself for some real relaxation, and family bonding time.
  • Start thinking about other campground locations,and start planning your trips.
  • Bring appropriate clothing and rain gear to be comfortable in unpredictable weather.
  • Remember, you can always rent your gear at local sporting goods stores at reasonable prices, a tent, and some bags should suffice.

Through the years, I have discovered that not only does camping rejuvenate the soul and get you back in touch with the reality of life and nature, it is also one of the most affordable family activities out there.

So my quest is to help new campers to find the confidence, and information to get started on the journey of a lifetime, with minimal expense, for maximum results.

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The Ideal Guided Trip to Norway

Norway is known for its beautiful and natural fjords and jagged coastlines that surrounded the country. Apart from this, there are various glaciers, mountain terrains and endless lush green pastures that have a scope for adventure and travel. Visiting this exhilarating country is very simple and all you need is a Norway visa, which you can get by applying for a Norway Visa online now. In this article we give you a list of the ideal cities to visit on your trip to Norway.

Oslo

Begin your journey from the city of Oslo, where the fjords are common and endless pastures of woodland can give you the opportunity to get lost in. This capital of Norway has a unique and wonderful blend of an ancient rich historic culture and a new urban mix. With various exotic museums that are dedicated to the famous art which comprises of the Edvard Munch’s the scream, as well as other spots like the Shi Museum and Viking history, this city will take you on a nostalgic journey down history. You can also look forward to a visit of the Oslo opera house for a night of classy opera musiconce you receive your visa after following the Norway visa process.

Bergen

This beautiful and charming city is located with seven hills and fjord each. The Bryggen is a must visit apart from being a UNESCO world heritage listen structure. The bubbling Vagen Harbor stands proudly in the center with hillsides surrounding it and wooden houses scattered around the house. To get an exceptional view of this charming location, you can take a ride in the cable car and enjoy the woodland and fjord clad horizon. Just apply for the Norway visa online and you will be ready to go.

Tromsø

This city is known for its lively cultural life and overflowing colorful streets. With its picturesque snowcapped peaks against the clear skies of crystal blue, this location makes an excellent hiking location for summer and skiing and dog – sledding in winter. There are a few iconic landmark structures like the Tromsø Museum University, where a well-documented and presented display of traditional and modern Sami life with its religious art and paraphernalia attract visitors from around the country and the world. All that is keeping you from this experience is the process of submitting your Norway visa application form!

To visit the beautiful land of Norway, you will need to a Norway visa. The application for the visa process is very simple and does not take more than a few days. You also have an option of applying for the visa online. In order to start the Norway Visa Process, you will need to submit your passport, the visa application form,the necessary documents, 2 passport size photographs and the copy of your tickets. If you are applying for a Norway Visa online, you will have to get a printout of the application form. If your Norway Visa Process is done perfectly, you will receive your visa with no trouble and have an excellent trip waiting for you!